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How a globalized world can lead to the erosion of cultural traditions
By M. Teresa Lapid Rodriguez Born and raised in the Philippines — growing up in the town of Guagua in Pampanga province — I face the fundamental issues of cultural identity every day on simply looking at food on the table: from Chinese noodles, to Spanish paella, American burger, or Filipino ‘kare-kare.’ One definition of […]
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Mindanao, the epic land of promise…and horses
The ceremony began with the ringing of the gong, followed by a spectacle of colorful ceremonial dances from the southern island of Mindanao. The exhibit called Mindanao: Land of Treasures opened June 18 at the Philippine Center on Fifth Avenue, transforming the Gallery Lobby into one moving tableau of color, music and Muslim pageantry. Consul […]
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Australian-born Yasmin Newman publishes book on Filipino cuisine, culture
Despite the Philippines’ location right in the middle of Southeast Asia, most people know very little about the country and even less about its cuisine. For Filipinos, food is more than sustenance; it is their cultural language. Filipinos use food to apologize, woo a woman, ask a favor, or say thank you; it fills in […]
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TOFA-NY at 4: The year’s best, brightest and boldest
By Cristina DC Pastor New York’s Commissioner for Small Business Services Maria Torres-Springer, bestselling author Gina Apostol, and transgender model-turned-activist Geena Rocero are among the 40 nominees to this year’s search for The Outstanding Filipino Americans in New York (TOFA-NY). Now on its fourth year, TOFA-NY was created to give recognition to organizations and individuals […]
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In her quest to build a museum, Nancy Bulalacao gets reacquainted with her community
By Cristina DC Pastor With more than 15 years’ immersion in the Asian American community, Nancy Bulalacao has decided it’s time to come home. In October, she, together with friends and colleagues, launched the Filipino American Museum (FAM), one that had neither collection, nor permanent location, and peddled it as a “roving” museum. Through FAM, […]
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Community celebrates 116th Independence Day, PHL as a ‘comeback economy’
Amid the festive colors of Filipiniana gowns and tables of Philippine food and cocktails, Consul General Mario de Leon Jr. welcomed the hundreds of well-wishers who came to celebrate the 116th anniversary of Philippine Independence on June 12. First the good news. De Leon announced Manila is one of the fastest growing economies in Asia. […]
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A weekend full of festivities, from the NJ Santacruzan to the NYC parade
By Megan Villarin This year, our Santacruzan mass at the St. Raphael-Holy Angels Filipino Parish in Hamilton, New Jersey was held inside the gym. Regardless, it was still a spectacular event. I watched the procession of the statue of the Virgin Mary, the sagalas and their escorts coming into the gym and taking their seats. […]
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Filipinos love their Madison Avenue parade!
By Elton Lugay Year after year, the June Philippine Independence Day Parade on Madison Avenue exudes an air of anticipation, excitement and spectacle. This year is no different. There’s Miss World Megan Young leading the celebrity herd, a mix of personalities representing showbiz, sports and government: Black Eyed Peas’ vocalist apl.de.ap, Judge Lorna Schofield, Senator […]
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Chelle Lhuillier is first transgender to ride Independence Day Parade float
By Elton Lugay There was no press announcement from the Philippine Independence Day Council Inc. (PIDCI), but trust Chelle Lhuillier to take this groundbreaking first and make it known to all that she, a transgender woman, will be the first to grace a float at the Independence Day parade on Madison Avenue, touted as the […]